Tending the Temple Daily

  It has occurred to me that we have been given a glimpse behind the curtain, we are seeing a bit of the world governing body of which our scriptures warn us. Albeit we are given names of lower level individuals, we can glean much about the top tier administration. First of all, those names that have been tossed around under conspiracy theory labels for decades upon decades, probably are indeed nefarious families. I've learned not to disregard anything labeled conspiracy theory, a modicum of truth is always found within it. These "files" most likely include false information as well as truth. To muddy the waters of understanding helps the guilty to bring doubt on what is true and what isn't.  Ghouls and monsters do exist in the shadows. These ghouls and monsters feed upon the innocent, literally and figuratively, physically and spiritually. The stories we are hearing from the released files are hard to hear. It is so offensive to our senses that we just can't look...

  I have often gotten defensive when I hear a non Christian tell Christians how Christians are supposed to behave or believe.  Seems ridiculous.  How would they how? They don't set the standard. Most recently it was in the Minnesota Church, where protesters entered the Church and screamed at the parishioners, calling them bad Christians and demanding they adhere to the protesters' standard for Christian behavior and beliefs.  Christians have done similar things. For instance condemning homosexuals, atheists, or even those in other religions, for their lifestyle, when those people never signed up to align themselves with the instructions written in the Bible. Yes, the whole world is subject to the Most High and His ways, yet we will never reach those communities of people with condemnation.  Condemning isn't our job. Emulating the standards for behavior found in the Holy Scriptures is our duty, honor and discipleship. How about we focus more on our behaviors, mak...

  I wasted some good sleep this weekend fretting over an incident that happened right before the week's end. That was not the first time I have had this same experience with this same person. As a matter of fact it is something I should be expecting, since it has happened multiple times before. Yet, I had my guard down, and wham! Knowing I had to go back to that place, and encounter that person again, I was on edge. I really hate those encounters. So I reminded myself of my favorite Jim Staley quote: the trials you hate are the proving grounds for your spiritual promotion.  I prayed up, I rested on Sabbath, and fed my spirit good things from The Word of Yah. I got up Monday morning and began getting ready for the day, my thoughts went to the spiritual armor. (Ephesians 6:10-18) My belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness,  the gospel of peace on my feet, the shield of faith, and the helmet of Salvation, with the sword of the Spirit. As I stepped out my door, I thought ...

  I was just listening to Outside The Camp's latest video. (I will for sure put the link at the end by my name.) Anyhow, Andrew is street preaching in this video. He has a table with a sign, along with his video equipment.  The sign reads: Christians should not eat swine. He is set up in a high foot traffic area, enticing folks to engage in the conversation.  And several people did engage.  What I noticed right away was that if he spoke with 10 people who claimed to be Christians,  each of the 10 had a different doctrine they followed. Each had a different understanding of the very same Scriptures that were being discussed. How can that be?  Why are the words in the Bible up for personal interpretation? We do not approach writings by other authors in that manner. We don't have multiple interpretations of Hemmingway, Steinbeck,  Dickens, or Tolstoy.  We do our best to understand what that author is communicating to us. Words matter, they have finit...

  One cannot turn on any news website or social media without seeing the warning that war is imminent.  Mostly, as Americans, we can put these threats of war out of our minds, and continue our day. Why? Well, war has not been at our front door since the American Civil War. War is continuously happening,  just somewhere else on the earth.  Unless you've served in the military,  it's likely, as an American, you don't give much thought to the devastation of war. How many innocent people die or are maimed? How many people are moved from their homes and families? How many people's lives are upended because someone with power wants war? Our mainstream media will not report accurately on war, it feels more like propaganda. Independent journalists who do show us the reality are quickly silenced. We are only shown what those people in power want us to see. Keeping us ignorant is a powerful tool.  Who exactly are these powerful people who want war? We can name the wo...

You will do what you believe.  Your actions are a testimony to what you believe.  James 2:26  tells us that "faith without works is dead". Why? Because you will do what you believe. It is evident to everyone around you what you believe because they can see your behaviors. Hebrews 11:1  Faith is the evidence of your convictions because you are doing what you believe!  Faith/belief isn't invisible. These aren't just notions you have in your heart.  If people can't see what you believe, then do you really believe it? I keep the 7th Day Sabbath, no buying or selling, keeping that day set apart to Yah, meditating upon His word, fellowship with family and like minded believers when possible.  I do this because I believe everything Yah said about the Sabbath. It is Holy and set apart forever  Leviticus 23:3, Exodus 20:8-11, Genesis 2:3 . It is a sign that I belong to Him Ezekiel 20:12, Exodus 31:13-17. I take Yah at His word, I believe Him.  I did n...